That's right kids it's time to pay some respect your elders. I'm talking about a man named Ralph H. Baer also known as the father of video games, never heard of him. For shame. It's time for a history lesson. Without this man who knows what our hobbies would be. We all might be doing something lame like collecting molds and fungus. (yeah I stole that from Ghostbusters so sue me.)
Mr. Baer was born on March 8th 1922. He is a video game pioneer, inventor, engineer. He is noted for his many contributions to games and the video game industry. In 2006, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology for inventing the home console for video games and spawning the video game industry. (see what I mean about our hobby now. What a great man.)
Baer started development of the "Brown Box" console video game system and several other prototypes in 1966 for the defense-electronics company Sanders Associates in Nashua, New Hampshire (now part of BAE Systems). In 1971, it was licensed to Magnavox, and after being renamed Magnavox Odyssey, the console was released to the public in 1972. Many in the company looked down on game development.
Baer created the first light gun and game for home television use, sold grouped with a game expansion pack for the Odyssey, and collectively known as the Shooting Gallery. The light gun itself was the first peripheral for a video game console.
Another invention is Simon, an electronic pattern-matching game that was immensely popular in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Here is some of his awards.
In 2005, at G4's video game award show G-Phoria, Baer received a Legend Award for his work in the development of video games.
On February 13, 2006, Baer was given a National Medal of Technology by President George W. Bush, in honor of his "groundbreaking and pioneering creation, development and commercialization of interactive video games".
In 2008, Baer received the IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award. He received the Pioneer award at GDC on Wednesday, February 20, 2006.
On February 27, 2008, Baer received the 2008 Developers Choice Awards "Pioneer" award. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed the advancement of the videogame industry through technology, concept, or gameplay design.
On April 1, 2010, Baer was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the United States Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
Sorry if you already knew who he was then I guess you are not for shamed. If you did know who he was sorry for this blog you could of skipped and said in the comment section something like "I already know that" or "Yep, what a guy" but whatever hope this was enjoyable for somebody.